M.2 ssd upgrade

[H3ADHUNT3R9983]

I am trying to upgrade my M.2 SSD from the 512 GB to a 1 TB M.2 SSD I have done bought all the parts what my problem is is I only have one M.2SSD connector locations on my motherboard so I have to clone my operating system from my old SSD to an external hard drive that I have then shut the computer down change my M.2 SSD’s out reboot the computer and then re-clone my operating system again from the hard drive to the new M.2SSD but when I do this and I remove the old SSD, my computer does not boot it gets stuck in a boot loop for a couple minutes and then it pops up and says your system could not start up blah blah blah what am I doing wrong

[TheOldMan]

It would/could be because the cloning operation is probably missing the hidden partition where the boot loader is located.

Depending on what software you are using to "clone". 

I see from another one of your posts that this is a Victus by HP 15L Gaming Desktop PC TG02-0000a (4H509AV) which has few options to assist in this operation.  Depending on what the specs on the 1 TB M.2 SSD, you might need to use a USB 3.2 to M.2 adapter to clone with using real cloning software, not just copying.

something like this

https://www.amazon.com/Vezzio-NVMe-Enclosure-Adapter-Support/dp/B0B9X8LWWR/ref=pd_ci_mcx_pspc_dp_2_t...

I am assuming the desktop is using a Graphics card, so the PCIExpress slot is occupied?